PM BUZZ

Compiled from Examiner sources and wire services.

Published 4:00 am, Tuesday, December 9, 1997

In the mild world of football announcing, where players and teams are usually given the benefit of the doubt, the Raiders are getting ripped on a regular basis. First it was Al Michaels on Monday Night Football, telling anational audience that for years the Raiders have been the league's most underachieving team and questioning their motto, "Commitment to Excellence." Then it was NBC's Bob Trumpy on Sunday, lighting into Oakland's weak effort against Kansas City.

With the score 20-0 before halftime, Trumpy questioned why Oakland looked so flat against its "most hated rival." The Chiefs fans at Arrowhead Stadium seemed numb, he added - "They want to hate the Raiders, but it's more sympathy than hate for the Raiders today." When quarterback Jeff George went into a slide 2 yards short of the first down marker on a third-down play in the second quarter, Trumpy said, "George slides too soon . . . he's not the best runner, but still - you'd like to see him give it more of a try."

He also questioned Joe Bugel's oh-well coaching of the game, when Bugel decided not to try for a first down on 4th-and-2 at midfield with his team behind by almost three touchdowns. "They're 4-9, going nowhere," said Trumpy.

"You would think . . . "

Last week the Raiders reacted harshly to Michaels' criticism, releasing a statement that said Michaels

"doesn't have an ounce of truthfulness or morality in his body." But they do not expect to follow up the latest criticism in the same way.

"I would expect Bob Trumpy and (broadcast partner) Charlie Jones were doing their job in a professional manner," said Al LoCasale, executive assistant for the Raiders. "With Al Michaels it was personal. Al Michaels was belittling the Raiders to belittle Al Davis. There's a world of difference."

BE QUIET: In case you missed it, here are a few more tidbits uttered byMayor Willie Brown in the wake of the Latrell Sprewell saga. Brown, speaking on Ronn Owens' KGO talk show last Friday said, among other things:

* "(Pro basketball players) are getting $70-80-90 million contracts over three-four-five years . . . and nobody is helping them."

* "I would not cast someone so far aside he becomes a relic of history."

*Fully backpedaling: "This is not racial. . . . The Jewish community has an impressive support system. The Chinese community has an impressive support system. We have no such system. I believe I should open a mentorship to any young black person who finds themselves in trouble."

When it was suggested he focus his efforts on helping youths in Hunters Point, the mayor said: "The amount of money you make doesn't change your social standing. It never has. It never will."

On what planet?

DON'T PLAY BALL: Yet another woeful tale from the dark side of television and sports. It seems baseball umpires, after losing an arbitration case, will be required to use stopwatches between innings to ensure that pitches are NOT thrown before a commercial break is over.

Now, innings will be on the clock, with no action beginning before 2 minutes, 25 seconds have passed during nationally televised Saturday afternoon and Sunday night games. In other regular-season games, TV must be afforded 2:05.

Said Pat Campbell, one of the umps' lawyers, following the decision: "We are not going to serve as lackeys for the TV networks."